Comedy Central pulled a scheduled rerun of a recent South Park episode that parodied conservative commentator Charlie Kirk hours after his death, though the episode continues to be available on Paramount+.
The episode, Season 27, Episode 2, titled "Got A Nut," originally aired Aug. 6 and features a storyline in which the character Eric Cartman — voiced by series co-creator Trey Parker — adopts a hairstyle and online persona resembling Kirk, boasting about "master-debating" and pouring protein powder into a bottle while challenging students. The episode opens with the series' standard disclaimer: "All events and characters in this show — even those based on real people — are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated… poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone."
According to reports, the rerun had been slated to air at 9 p.m. Wednesday on Comedy Central but was replaced in the lineup by Season 27, Episode 3, "Sickofancy." The episode remains streaming on Paramount+. Decider reported the schedule change and said it had contacted a representative for the series for comment.
Charlie Kirk, the co-founder of conservative organization Turning Point USA, was shot and killed Wednesday while speaking at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University. He was 31. The event was part of Turning Point USA's "The American Comeback Tour," according to the organization's website. Media outlets reported that Kirk had previously reacted to the South Park episode on social media, posting the episode's promo on July 29 and later sharing a clip after it aired with the comment, "Not bad, Cartman," accompanied by laughing emojis.
The episode also received attention for a separate scene in which it depicts Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shooting a puppy. Noem criticized the series for mocking her appearance on The Glenn Beck Program and said it "it's so lazy to make fun of women for how they look," according to reports.
South Park's creators have routinely included satirical portrayals of public figures and have used the program's opening disclaimer to note the fictionalized nature of characters and events. Season 27 has released multiple episodes since its debut; media reports said Comedy Central's schedule on the night in question resembled the prior night's slate, with earlier episodes airing in late-night slots and other episodes from various seasons filling the schedule.
Comedy Central did not immediately provide a public statement explaining the decision to swap the rerun. Paramount+ continued to list the episode for streaming after the schedule change.